Casa Guadalupe Center
Title: A Summer with the Casa Kids
Student Interns:
Rachel Baffour
DeSales University, School of Nursing
Amanda Deutsch
DeSales University, School of Health Sciences, Medical Studies to Physician Assistant Program
Hala Mahmoud
DeSales University, School of Health Sciences, Medical Studies to Physician Assistant Program
Academic Preceptor:
Tricia Bernecker, PhD, RN
DeSales University
Community Preceptor:
Andrea Wilson, PhD
Education Staff Lead Coordinator, Casa Guadalupe
Community Site:
Casa Guadalupe Center is a nonprofit organization that provides educational services to children and young adults, as well as housing, behavioral health services through its Lotus clinic, and services for elderly residents. Established in 1969, it serves underrepresented communities in the Lehigh Valley and Allentown, with a focus on the Latino community. In partnership with organizations such as the DaVinci Science Center and Innastar, Casa Guadalupe offers a summer program that provides children with a packed schedule of educational, engaging, and memorable activities that encourage creativity and self-expression.
Team’s Experience:
The BTG student interns spent the summer at a community-based education center where the primary focus was on youth empowerment, creativity, and health. Their work centered on honing the students’ teamwork skills through interactive lessons and activities such as entrepreneurship, literacy, financial literacy, mental health, and performing arts. Activities included students practicing and directing screenplays and dance performances in preparation for an end-of-the-year performance. The interns also brought in partners to teach yoga, engineering, performance, visual arts, and science. They contributed to improving classroom management, behavior, and engagement through consistent guidance and structured routines.
Reflections
“This summer, I feel like I learned so much from working with the staff, the kids, and my fellow interns. Especially working with the specific demographic of 2nd and 3rd graders, I feel like I learned how to better handle challenges that arose with compassion, understanding, and empathy. Using these qualities helped me to patiently resolve conflicts between the students. Honestly, this experience has encouraged me to utilize the skills I developed in this program within my profession, understanding that there is much more to a person than what is on the surface, and to provide the best service possible, you must consider the person within and all of the factors that affect their lives. As a nurse, I will strive not to see people as just another patient, but as a human being who comes along with life experiences that have shaped who they are.”
Rachel Baffour
“After the duration of the summer program with Casa Guadalupe, I will take a lot from this experience, both in my personal and professional life. This [experience] allowed me to develop and strengthen my interpersonal skills between various demographics, including children, adults, and my peers. Working specifically with my class, which was 4th and 5th grade, taught me a lot about patience and understanding the emotional environment to properly proceed with lesson plans. As I forward my efforts to become a physician assistant, I will bring the same levels of empathy and compassion that I shared with these children in my practice.”
Amanda Deutsch
“The BTG CHIP experience left a profound impression on my personal and professional development. Engaging directly with community members and organizations allowed me to better understand social determinants that affect health in the community. This experience also emphasized the importance of empathy, active listening, and patience when working with underserved populations. Working in a team allowed me to enhance my communication and collaboration skills, which is essential for working within a team in a healthcare setting. My time at Casa Guadalupe working with students in grades 6 to 12 allowed me to build strong, trusting relationships with the students. They began to open up to me about their challenges, dreams, and struggles both inside and outside of school. Being a consistent, supportive presence helped me understand the importance of active listening and being there for students. I learned that beyond assisting in education, creating a safe space for students to feel heard and valued is crucial. This experience shaped how vital it is to see how community work and healthcare extend beyond clinical work and how it involves building trusting and genuine relationships.”
Hala Mahmoud